Photovoice Safety and Ethics

Pennie Foster-Fishman, Ph.D.

Michigan State University

Photovoice Impact

• Photovoice is, by design, intended to powerfully impact people

• A Photovoice project can impact:

– Photovoice photographers

(direct participants)

– Photo subjects

– Broader community

• Who experiences the stories and photos through public exhibit

Photovoice Impact

• Because Photovoice has the potential for great impact it is essential to pay attention to the possibility of harm

– Harm can happen when safety

concerns are ignored

AND

– Harm can happen when the

ethics of being a photographer are

ignored

Safety

• The process of taking photos can put you and the very people you are taking pictures of at risk!

– This can happen while taking the photograph, or after when the photo is shown to the public and other community members

– It is important to respect the people you are taking pictures of and always keep in mind their personal safety and the potential implications of the photo

What Puts You or Your Photo Subjects at Risk?

Putting yourself in a dangerous situation in order to get

the “great picture”

Taking pictures of people who may display behaviors they

don’t want made public

As a photographer, you might be considered “part of” the

events or situations in your photos (e.g., illegal activities,

embarrassing situations)

Photovoice in Practice: Staying Safe

• Identify yourself as a student working on a Photovoice project

• Think about who and what you are taking

pictures of

• Ask yourself:

– How would I feel if I were in this photo? Would I be

okay with others in the community seeing me like

this?

– Would I be embarrassed by this? (IF YES, don’t take

this photo!)

Photovoice in Practice: Staying Safe

Practice Shooting Smart:

• Never put yourself in an unsafe place

– Don’t trespass

– Don’t go to unsafe places

• Never take a photo of criminal activity

– Your personal safety is the highest

priority, no photo is worth personal danger

– Be creative

• There are always abstract ways to present an idea, or tell a story

Ethics

• Photovoice participants also have an ethical responsibility to the people who are photographed as part of the project

Being an Ethical Photographer

• Understand the risk you put people in that you photograph

– For example: A person is identified with a connection to a particular situation or activity in the photo (e.g. illegal activities, an embarrassing situation)

Being an Ethical Photographer

• Consider: Why would someone not want their picture taken?

• As a documentary photographer you have a responsibility to treat the people you document with respect

“The art is in selecting what is worthwhile to take the trouble about…” - Berenice Abbott

Procedures for Being an Ethical Photographer

• Explain the Purpose of the Photo

• If people will be in your photograph, first explain the project (see the script we provided) before you take the photo.

• Get a Signed Photo Release:

– You MUST receive a signed Photo Release form from EVERY person that can be identified in a photo.

• Photos cannot be posted or used in the exhibit, digital stories, OR the website if we do not have a signed photo release.

Procedures for Being an Ethical Photographer

Remember:

The point of taking these photos is to gather material to discuss and provoke conversations. There is no point in taking a photograph that can not be shared with others.

Impact on Your Community

Key Concerns:

Are these photos and stories a potential risk to the community as a whole?

Impact on Your Community

• What does this photo say about my community?

– Consider the potential negative impacts that photos can have on the community as a whole

• Ask yourself: How will my community react to this photo? Will it create a scandal or conflict? Could it create negative perceptions of some individuals or groups in my community?

• Rule of Thumb:

– Always weigh the potential for collective

good against potential for both individual

and collective harm

Questions?

“You don't take a photograph. You ask, quietly, to borrow it.”

~Author Unknown